F/A-18 Hornet 2.0 (Mac)
 & Korean Crisis (Mission Theater Set)
(Graphic Simulations Corporation)
By Paul Anderson
     As the 2.0 suggests, this is the second installment of the F/18-Hornet game by Graphic Simulations. This version is available both as its own game and as an update for F/A-18 version 1.x. The Korean Crisis is a set of missions that you can add on to the basic collection of sorties that are included in 2.0.
     Jump into the cockpit of one of the deadliest jet fighters to ever cruise the skies. YouÕll be required to complete a number of missions covering air- and land-based targets. Prior to each mission, youÕll be briefed on targets and objectives. After that, itÕs up to you to get your plane to the air and back in one piece.
     F/A-18 is a complex yet very true to life jet simulator. To give you a better idea, this game uses virtually every key on the keyboard for all of the jetÕs functions. All of the planeÕs navigation, flight controls, and weapons are represented by a letter or number. The enormous number of command keys can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get acclimated you may find yourself pressing keys without looking. 
     The environment created by this simulator is not very common on the Macintosh. A number of ÒvirtualÓ views can be accessed through command keys. Look up, back, off the wing, from behind, and even put yourself in the eyes of the weapon as it speeds toward its target. F/A-18 Hornet even offers network play for up to four players via AppleTalk. Not many Mac games can say that.
     Even though F/A-18 Hornet 2.0 has a tremendous amount of complexity, it offers difficulty settings that allow it to be as unrealistically easy or as realistically hard as any player may want. Any flight jockey looking for a true jet-fighter experience should look no further. This was and still is the best air combat game for the Mac.

F/A-18 HORNET 2.0 INSTRUCTIONS

1.)Click the Play Demo button.
2.)When F/A-18 Hornet 2.0 Screen appears, click on Switch To Interactive Demo.
3.)Demo instructions will appear onscreen.



Power Pete
(MacPlay)
By Paul Anderson
     Power Pete is an arcade style action game created by InterPlay ProductionsÕ Macintosh game publishing division, MacPlay. ItÕs dubbed by the gameÕs developers as Òthe fastest scrolling game on the Macintosh,Ó although that doesnÕt say much considering the limited number of game titles available for the Mac. But to MacPlayÕs and PeteÕs credit, the game is as fluid and quick as they say.
     After closing hours at the local Toy Mart the player takes on the role of the gun-totinÕ Pete, the most powerful toy action-figure money can buy. (And this whole time I thought GI Joe was the most powerful!) The basic plot is the same throughout the entire game: shoot your way through each level and rescue all the fuzzy bunnies. Initially, Pete is only equipped with a bunny-radar and a sucker pistol, but he can easily aquire a number of other toy store weapons such as the double-barreled gumball blaster and the toothpaste gun. Blasting the enemies allows Pete to aquire other items that will also help him further his quest, such as speed pellets, exploding cakes, and bombs that blow away everything in range (except, of course, Pete). In addition, some levels require you to find keys to open doors that expand the playing field and lead to more bunnies.
     The style and play mechanics of Power Pete are very reminiscent of games that first appeared on the original Apple computers in the early Õ80s; however, Pete is nicely updated with well-animated play and a hilariously corny soundtrack. Three difficulty settings provide a wide variety of challenge and allow Power Pete to appeal to a wide range of players. 	Macintosh gaming is still in its infancy when compared to the number of titles available on the IBM. Power Pete is really nothing new for PC gaming, but it does offer Mac gamers a solid and entertaining arcade-style game as well as show InterplayÕs commitment to a future in Mac gaming.

     Power Pete consists of five store departments, each containing three areas for a total of fifteen levels in the entire game.  The following are the five departments:

1.) Prehistoric Plaza (lots of cavemen and dinosaur toys)
2.) Candy Cane Lane (gingerbread men, mints, and other sugary treats)
3.) Fairy Tale Trail (fairy tale creatures and books)
4.) Magic Funhouse (killer clowns, jack-in-the-boxes, and evil rabbits)
5.) Bargain Bin (cars, tops, robots, etc.)

     This demo version of Power Pete contains only the first level of the first world (Prehistoric Plaza).  The full game contains all the levels described above.
     There are a certain number of Fuzzy Bunnies that you must to rescue on each level.  When the game begins, you will see a ÒBunniesÓ counter in the status bar, to the right of your screen.  This shows you how many bunnies are remaining in the area to be rescued.  Power Pete is equipped with a bunny-locating radar system.  Press the ÔRÕ key to activate or deactivate the radar.  This radar screen shows the locations of all the bunnies within a limited distance from Power Pete.  To rescue a bunny, just walk Power Pete over it to pick it up. 
     When you rescue the last Fuzzy Bunny, the level is completed and you'll then proceed to the next area or department.
     Whenever an enemy is destroyed, jawbreakers and confetti pop out. When the player collects 500 jawbreakers, Power Pete gets one more heart added to his maximum health.  Power Pete starts with 4 hearts and can end up with up to 8.
     Sometimes you get an extra perk: a weapon or a power-up.  The weapons which are left behind from destroyed enemies range from toy guns to toothpaste to exploding cake grenades.  The special power-ups range from speedy shoes to enemy freezers to firebursts.  You might also find food lying around--grab these snacks to bring your life points back up a bit.  You cannot pick up food if you are already at full health.
     To collect any of the above, just walk Power Pete over it.  If a power-up begins to flash, that means you have only a few more seconds before it disappears.  Power-ups are activated immediately upon pickup.
     Weapons are automatically added to your weapon inventory; press the Command key to toggle through your weapon choices.  The icon and ammo count of the current weapon is displayed in the status bar.  You will begin with a mere suction-cup gun, but don't despair: the best is definitely yet to come.  Different weapons have different destructive capabilities, and some weapons may be too weak to harm a certain enemy.   If a bullet hits an enemy and does no damage, you will hear a ÒtinkÓ sound as the bullet bounces harmlessly off of the enemy.  Either switch to something more powerful or turn around and RUN!
     Each level has either doors or barriers, and each door is color-coded for the key color that must open it.  You will see colored dots in front and in back of each door; the color of these dots tells you what color key you must find to open the door.  Keys are strewn around the levels.  Pick up a key like any other power-up.  When a key is collected it appears in a special section of the status bar, and when the key is used it disappears from the status bar.  A key can only be used once.  Keys on various levels are hammers, tickets, bombs, keys, or radio controls.

THE CONTROLS
     To switch between mouse control and keyboard/game pad control, walk Power Pete over to the joystick icon on the main menu and press the space bar.  You will be able to use the arrow keys to choose between the mouse and the keyboard.  (If you are going to use a joystick or game pad, choose the keyboard.)
     If you want to play using the keyboard, you can move around using the arrow keys, using the numeric keypad, or using the nine keys centered around the "K" key.  The darkened keys on the chart below are the movement keys.
     Additionally, here is a list of the other key commands.  You can use them whether you use mouse control or keyboard control:

Switch Weapon:               Command
Shoot Weapon:                Space Bar
View Rabbit Radar:           R
Toggle Music On/Off:         Command-M
Toggle Effects On/Off:       Command-S
Raise / Lower Volume:        +/-
Quit:                        Command-Q
Pause:                       P
Return to Menu or Save Game: <ESC>




EMERGENCY BROADCAST NETWORK: Telecommunication Breakdown (TVT) 
(enhanced CD playable on both Mac and Windows CD-ROM)
By Brett Atwood
     Be warned. The Emergency Broadcast Network can induce headaches when applied incorrectly. Sensory overload is a serious side effect to EBNÕs in-your-face assault of video sampling and beat-intensive music. Some will call it noise, which may very well be true. However, this is noise with a purpose.
    The audio-only portion of the disc contains 20 tracks of organized confusion. Soundbytes from television broadcasts are layered on top of each other to form quirky, but catchy, melodies.
     EBN gained some attention a few years ago when it provided a video sample-derived duet of George Bush and Bill Clinton performing QueenÕs ÒWe Will Rock YouÓ for the opening portion of U2Õs ÒAchtung BabyÓ tour.
     That track isnÕt contained on this disc, but there are plenty of other odd television-derived tracks present here, including the stand-out tracks ÒGet Down Ver. 2.2,Ó ÒShoot The Mac-10,Ó and ÒSexual Orientation.Ó The only relief from the jumbled musical assault comes from the one-minute meditational opening of ÒSuper Zen State (Power Chant No. 3).Ó
	A Òvideo wallÓ of multiple video images opens up the multimedia portion of the disc, which will play on both Mac and Windows CD-ROM-equipped computers. Click on one of the many mock television screens to see a video sample from each of the 20 songs.
	In addition, three full-length videos are contained on the disc.
	Ò3:7:8Ó opens with a simple image of a young boy singing falsetto. Before long, a random assault of archive music footage kicks in. Ann Miller dances, an old cowboy whistles, and, suddenly, that annoying falsetto-singing boy is floating around the screen. ItÕs a bit overwhelming, to say the least.
	Infomercials infiltrate the clip for ÒElectronic Behavior Control System,Ó which overflows with the television personalities that you love to hate. Video samples of Susan Powter and Tony Robbins are juxtaposed with Bill Clinton and Ross Perot. ÒNightlineÓ host Ted Koppel interrupts occasionally, while a hip-hop beat pounds on.
	The final video ÒHomicidal Schizophrenic (A Lad Insane)Ó is (not surprisingly) the strangest. Some crazy dude babbles and drools, while Suzanne Somers smiles on in mock merriment. Throw in a splash of O.J. Simpson, hide the good kitchen utinsels, and reach for the lithium.
	Transmission out.
	

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.) Click on the Play Demo button.
2.) Your screen will soon fill with multiple television-screen images. At the lower right-hand corner is what looks like a remote-control device. Click on the button marked ÒHelp,Ó and an explanatory screen will appear in the center of the screen.